Can opening mechanism



1952 H. c. WILSON CAN OPENING MECHANISM Filed March 1, 1948 :5; WAwg v p m a; a

X c x J 0 A 6 3 a z w a a w B Patented Oct. 28, 1952 .UNITEDTZST ATES PATENT OFFICE I I I v I CAN 'oPEjfiIiNG MECHANISM" na'rry ofvvilsen, Sherman Oaks, Calif., assignor to/Robert H. Clark, Los Angeles, Calif. Application March '1, 1948, Serial No. 12,251

This invention is concerned with-a can open-'- ing mechanism and'it" is ageneralobject of) the invention to provide" an improved, dependable structure operable to o'pen' a can by'cutting'away the top thereof, together with the head that joins the top 'with'th'e side wall; I I i I g i This invention ismo're particularlyconcerned with improvements incanopner's of the-general type set forth and claimed in my ctr-pending application entitledDevicefor Removing theEnds of Cans, Serial No. 710;7'25, filed Novemberlii,

In the can openerwhich'is-tlie subject oithe a'bove -identified co --pencliiig application there is ashear member that cutsthe'si'de wall-oi the can immediately beneath thetopbead and the can is advanced relative to the-shear by a feed wheel which rotates and which engages fthe bead; pref erably at the inner side thereof. The presentinvention is concerned with providing a structure whereby an effective "driving or f-ricti'o'na1 en agement is maintained between the feed -wh eel and the bead-of the can soth'a't ippage' does not cccur-in thecourse of operatingthe mechanismf A generalobj ect of f the I present invention is to provide a can openingmechan'ism'of the gen-. eral character referred-to including a shoeth'at cooperates. with i the feed wheel to the: end" that the bead of the can isefie'ctively gripp'ed and en'- gaged by the feed wheel so-thatnoislippageor: curs between the wheel-and the cania'sithe m'echanismoperates. L: r

Another obj ect of the" present:invention is" to provide a shoeofxthe; general character referred to which establishes a resilient grippingengagement-of the feed wheel withgithezbead -of.jthe can which engagement effectively accommodatesv itself to variations or irregularities :in therbead of the can; I i -g It is another; object of, the invention to' provide a mechanism of the-general character referred to including a yieldingi'omresilient.pressure shoe opposed to the feed wheel so thatthe'bead of thecan :is'gripped between the shoe-Jand wheel which shoe isv of simple,:in'expensive construction and is at the same time effective and dependable in operation- I The various objects ananreatures of my invention will be fullyunderstoodfrom the followin detailed description of a typical preferred form;-

' W Claims. (Cl. 30- -9) Fig. l is a VieW 'il-luStratin'gacan opening mechanism-1embodyingc the= present invention showing it mounted in a typical manner o'na suitable support and showing a can applied thereto ready for operation of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the mechanism embodying the present invention showing a can'in place ready for the mechanism to be operated. Fig. 3is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line'3*'3" on Fig. 2, being a view showing the parts before-operation has been initiated and showing acan in position ready to be gripped and beingaview showing the formation and arrangement of the shoe whichembodies the present invention; Fig. 4 is a view of the mechanism taken as indicated by line d -4 on Fig. 2, showing the" mechanism in the course of operation, with the'feed wheel opposite the shoe and the bead of the can grippedbetween the shoe and the whee'l. Fig. 5 is 'aplan section taken as indicated by" 1ine-4' '4 on Fig; 2; showing the mechanism provided for operating the feed wheel relative to the shoe. Fig. 6 is a View similar to Fig. 5 showing the parts inga different operative position; Fig. 7*isan' enlarged view similar to a portion of Fig.- 2 and illustrating thesho'e in side elevationi=- Fig. 8 isa view similar to a portion of Fig. "7 showin g'the shoein' section The structure provided by m present invention is particularly applicable to a can opener mechanism designed to operate on a canhaving a-top joined'to' the sidewall by a bead'and in whicha rotating; feed wheel-engages the-bead to advance the can in'themechan'ism: In the drawings I have illustrate'd the invention as applied tothis type or mechanism and morespeccificallyI have shown it'incorporated in the form and type of mechanism which is-the subject of my above mentioned cd-pending application."

The I mechanismincluding the present invention may be-mounted or handled in various manners. In the case illustrated'itis shown with its body A= provided} an'eXt'ension I 9 pivotally connected to-"a'"suitable'suppert H bya bracket The 'mechanism is'-'suc'1ia's'-to act'upon a-can beadi5?" The mechanism as shown in the drawings involves; generally; a p1ate-'li1 :e'- ways; a shear member B;- arse-a member-C,- operating means D for thereedrfiembr; a pressure shoe E' ahd means F effecting reiativemovem t"be the feed member and a closed position where the bead of the can is engaged by the shoe and the feed member While the shear is in position to cut the side wall of the can immediately beneath the bead. In the particular mechanism illustrated the shear member B and the shoe E are carried by the body A so that they are maintained in a fixed position while the feed member C is bodily shiftable and through the means F shifts relative to the shoe and also relative to the shear member B.

The body A in its preferred form is preferably a base plate to which the other parts of the mechanism are connected or on which they are mounted and in the form shown there is an elongate plate disposed substantially horizontally when in 4 is not only rotatable but 'is shifta'bly carried by the body A. In thecase illustrated the opening 31 provided in the body A to carry the shaft 30 is an elongate opening or slot with its inner end portion 38 opposite the shoe E while its outer end portion 39 is outward of and remote from the shoe E.

The means F 'efiects relative movement between the feed wheel or the shaft that carries the feed-wheeland the shoe E" and therefore between the feed wheel and the shear member as operation of the mechanism is initiated. The

means F is a cam means that moves the shaft 30 through or in the slot 31. In the form illusoperating position, as shown throughout the I drawings. the plate at or below the lower side |1 thereof and it is such as to present a shearing edge I8 that acts upon the side wall I4 of the can X. In the case illustrated the shear member B is a round flat member or disc and the edge I8 is established where the periphery I9 of the disc joins the top thereof. As shown in the drawings the periphery I9 is somewhat tapered so the disc is larger at its upper end than at its lower end and the top 20 adjacent the edge I8 is pitched or inclined somewhat so that the edge I8 is formed by parts that are at substantially 90 relative to each other.

The shear member B is mounted on or from the body A so that it is located a suitable distance below the lower side I1 of the body and in the case illustrated it is shown carried by a pivot pin 2| which has-a bearing portion 22 on which the shear disc B rotates. A head 23 on the lower end of the part 22 retains the disc on the pin and a shank 24 projects upwardly from the bearing part 22 and threads into an opening in the body A. e

The shoe E provided by the present invention and which will be later described in detail is preferably mounted on or carried by the pin 2| and is located between the shear disc B and the lower side I 1 of the body A, as clearly shown throughout the drawings.

The feed membenC is preferably a wheel or rotatable member supported by or from the plate at the under side thereof and it has a toothed periphery 25 which when the mechanism is operating is opposite the shoe E. In the preferred arrangement the feed wheel C is located outward of the shear member or toward the outer end of the body A from the shear member and it is carried by a shaft 30.

The shaft forms a mounting or support for the feed wheel and is a vertically disposedshaft supported by or through the body A. An oper: ating handle 3| is fixed to the upper end of shaft 30 at the top side of the body A and provides a means by which the shaft can be readily rotated. In the particular case illustrated the feed'member C involves a wheel portion 32 which is threaded onto the lower end of shaft 30 while the handle 3| has a hub portion 33 in which the upper end portion of the shaft is fixed.

In the mechanism being described the feed wheel 32 with its toothed periphery is shiftable between a released position where it is removed from the shoe E and which is shownin Fig. 3 and an operating position where it is opposite the shoe E and cooperates therewith, as shown in Fig. 4. To effect such shifting of the feed The shear member B is carried by trated themeans F'involves a cam disc 40 fixed to the hub 33 of the operating handle 3| and located at the upper side of body A. An abutment or pin 4| projects upwardly from the body A and cooperates with the cam 40. The cam has a periphery 42 which is generally concentric with the axis of the shaft 30 and it has a curved notch 43 that enters it from its periphery.

When the handle"3| isrotated backwards or is returned to an unactuated position such as is shown in Figs. 1 and '2 of the drawings the cam 40 and pin 4| are moved relative to each other so that the pin'enters the notch 43 and through this cooperative engagement the shaft 30 is moved outward in the slot 31 to the outer end of the slot where the feed wheel is removed from the shoe E. As operation of the handle 3| is initiated in a forward direction, that is, in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 6, the pin 4| moves out through the notch 43 causing shifting of the shaft. 30; to the inner end of slot 31 following which the shaft 3fl is maintained at the inner end of the slot 31. while the handle 3| continues in rotation turning the feed wheel 32 while it is inengagement with the bead of the can.

The pressure shoe E provided by the present invention establishes an. abutment opposite the feed wheel 32 when the feed wheelis at the inner end ofslot 31 and thereafter, as the shear member cuts the side of the can, the shoe E and feed wheel cooperate to maintain a tight feeding engagement with the bead I5 of the can. The engagement established by means of the shoe E is preferably a resilient or yielding engagement such as to accommodate irregularities that may occur in the bead of thecan.

The shoe of the present invention involves, generally, a pressure plate supported by means of a holder 6|. In the case illustrated the pressure plate fill is yieldingly supported from the holder through or by means of suitable resilient arms 62. v I

The pressure plate 60,. as shown in the drawings, may be an elongate part extending beneath the body A and it may have a curved or concaved pressure face that'conforms, generally, to the contour of the bead I5 of the can.

The'holder 6| maybe a washer-like member located between the shearmemberB and the body A. In the form illustrated the holder 6| isheld tight between thebotto'm side I1 of the body and the shoulder 65 that occurs on the pin 2| where thebearing part 2 2..joins the' shank 24. holder BI thus'forms a spacer which enables the pin 2| to be screwed tightly t0 the body Awhile the shear disc is thepin. H V

The resilient support of the plate, 6|)v is gained through the arms J62, which are spring arms.

The: a ms 62. proj t; fr m; or .are. provided on supported to rotate'freely on the ends c'i'fthe"plate?BO atld-tIiey 'are held by the holder Bl. In the particular case illustrated the arms 6 2 are curved parts projecting ;;from the n o h aiefi v n a e ved. wa from the feed wheel 32 and toward the holder 6| so that they have opposedv ends which enter notches 65 in the sides of the h Ider 6 The notches 6B are opposite each other at opposite sides or edges ofthe holder Gland are of such depth as to adequately accommodate the opposed ends of the arms, as clearly shijiivn' Fig. ear the drawings. In the preferrefl'form of the invention the plate 60 and the arms 62 with their opposed ends are formed of a continuous length of resilient material, as for instance, spring steel or the like.

The holder 6| of the shoe E is not only held or clamped tight to the body A through the construction above described, but it is preferred that means be provided for positively holding it against rotation about the axis of the pin 2|. In the case illustrated a projection or lug is provided on the holder Bl to enter an opening in the body A remote from the opening that receives the pin 2! as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

In accordance with my present invention the shoe E is located and proportioned so that when the feed roller 32 is in operating position, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the plate 60 of the shoe E is deflected somewhat by the bead of the can toward the holder 6!, with the result that the bead of the can is gripped between the shoe and the feed roller. Through this pressure or gripping engagement the teeth of the 'feed roller are maintained in effective engagement with the bead of the can so that as the feed roller is rotated the bead of the can is advanced between the feed roller and the shoe causing the can X to advance or rotate, with the result that its side I4 is cut by the shear B immediately beneath the bead.

. Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An opener operable on a can having a side and a bead joining a top to the side including, a body, a shear carried by the body and adapted to engage the side of the can beneath the bead, a feed wheel carried by the body adapted to engage the inner side of the bead, and a resilient pressure shoe carried by the body, the shoe having sliding frictional engagement with the outer side of the bead opposite the feed wheel, the shoe having a concave can engaging face.

2. An opener operable on a can having a side and a bead joining a top to the side including, a body, a shear disc, a pin projecting from the 6 "3. opener operabie on a can having a side and a bead joining a T361) 110 'Sill including, a body, a shear carried by the body engaging the side-of can beneath the-bead, afeed wheel carried by the' body ehgaging the il'lhersi'd of the' be'ad, and -ashneengaging' theouter side or the bead opposite the wheel'including, a holder carried in a fixed position en the body above the shea'r;"a pressur'eplate-with a ccnea'verace fr'i'etion'ally engaging the bead, and resilient arms at the ends of the plate connecting the plate and holder andforming the 's'ole support for the p a s .1 7

4. An opener operable on a can having aside and a bead joining a top to the side including. a body, a shear carried by the body engaging the side of the can beneath the bead, a feed wheel carried by the body engaging the inner side of the bead, and a shoe engaging the outer side of the bead opposite the wheel including, a holder carried by the body and having oppositely faced notches, a pressure plate, and resilient arms on the plate with opposed ends. engaged in the notches. p

5. An opener operable on a can having a side and a bead joining a top to the side including, a body, a shear carried by the body engaging the side of the can beneath the bead, a feed wheel body and rotatably supporting the shear disc where it is adapted to engage the side of the can beneath the bead, a feed wheel carried by the body and adapted to engage the inner side of the bead, and a shoe adapted to engage the outer side of the bead opposite the wheel including, a flat holder carried by the pin in a fixed position between the shear disc and the body, and a pressure plate carried by the holder with a can engaging part spaced from the edge of the holder and frictionally bearing on the bead of the can to urge it toward the feed wheel.

notches, the arms and plate being acontinuous resilient unit.

6. An opener operable on a can having a side and a bead joining a top to the side including, a body, a shear carried by the body engaging the side of the can beneath the bead, a feed wheel carried by the body engaging the inner side of the bead, and a shoe engaging the outer side of the bead opposite the wheel including a flat holder carried in a fixed position by the body between the body and shear, and a pressure plate carried by the holder and frictionally bearing on the bead of the can, the plate having a can engaging part with a concave face engaged by the bead and spaced from the holder.

'7. An opener operable on a can having a side and a bead joining a top to the side includin a body, a shear, a pin mounting the shear on the body to engage the side of the can, a feed wheel carried by the body engaging the inner side of the bead, a holder on the 'pin between the shear and body, and a resilient plate carried by the holder engaging the outer side of the bead opposite the wheel.

8. An opener operable on a can having, a side and a bead joining a top to the side including, a body having an opening therein, a shear, a pin mounting the shear on the body to engage the side of the can, a feed wheel carried by the body engaging the inner side of the bead, a holder on the pin between the shear and body and having a lug engaged in the opening, and a resilient plate carried by the holder engaging the outer side of the bead opposite the wheel.

9. An opener operable on a can having a side and a bead joining a top to the side including, a

body, a shear,a pin mounting the shear on the body to engage the side of the can, a feed wheel carried by the body engaging the inner side of the bead, a holder on the'pin between the shear and body, a resilient plate engaging the outer REFERENCES cum) I The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Numb er 8 FLSTATES PATENTS Number- I Name Date Walther Nov. 14, 1911 Andrae et a1 Jan. 9, 1923 Cotten et al. June 24, 1930 Dazey Feb. 9, 1937 Kublin June 11, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS f'C'ofintry Date Great Britain Feb. 18, 1932 

